Rail support and fastening means



March 21, 1933. w. s. BOYCE RAIL SUPPORT AND FASTENING MEANS Fil ed Oct. 13,

1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l W. S. BOYCE March 21, 1933 1,902,615 R AIL SUPPORT AND FASTENING MEANS Filed Oct. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fill/6 2127 v W MN Patented Mar. 21', 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAMS. BOYCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS RAIL SNPPOBT AND FASTENING MEANS Application filed October 13, 1930. Serial No. 488,237.

' rail to a tie wherein a tie plate is utilized and whereby the plate is firmly secured to the tie so as to practically eliminate mechanical wear or destruction of tie fibre; to provide an arrangement in which the normal vertical or wave movement of the rail is permitted to occur without withdrawing or loosening the spikes used to secure the tie plates to the tie; to provide'a tie plate and rail-anchoring arrangement in which clips are secured to the tie plate on opposite sides of the rail for securing the latter to the tie plate, and in which the same type of clips .may be utilized interchangeably on both sides of the rail; to provide an arrangement including double shoulder tie plates and J clips which facilitates the use of lower shoulders on the tie plate than has heretofore been practicable; to provide an arrangement in which the tie plates are free from spike-holes in the Zone of greatest stress, i. e., under the edges of the-rail base flange or under the rail-abutting shoulders; to provide an arrangement whereby looseness of the tie-platefastening means incident to embedment of the tie plate in the tie is automatically taken up to provide a rail-anchoring clip structure which facilitates positioning or removal of the clip, especially in connection with the use of screw spikes; to provide a clip structure which facilitates withdrawal of the fastening spikes when driven or cut spikes are used; to provide an arrangement in which certain of the clips are welded to the tie plates to obtain an additional safety factor, while at the same time permitting removal or replacement of the tie plates without requiring removal of the welded-on clip from the tie plate.

Other objects and advantages of the inveni 50 tion will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (two sheets), in which the invention is illustrated in certain selected embodiments.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross section through a rail immediately in front of the tie and the railsupporting-and-fastening means carried by the tie;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a plansimilar to Fig. 2, but on a reduced scale, and illustrating a modified arrangement Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modified structure;

Fig. 5 is a-top plan of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 66 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a plan illustrating an improved track mounting embodying certain of the features of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have illustrated the lower portion of a rail in cross section at 10, the rail including a base flange which extends laterally on opposite'sides of the web part in accordance with conventional rail construction. The rail 10 is positioned'on a wood or other suitable tie 11, a tie plate 12 being interposed between the bottom of the rail and the tie.

The tie plate 12 is illustrated, in this instance, as being of that type which embodies 1 a pair of rail-abutting shoulders 13 and 14, which are disposed at the opposite sides of the rail seat portion 15 of the tie plate. Pro- Jecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the rail seat portion and outwardly beyond the shoulders 13 and 14 are tie plate end portions 16 and 17. The standard practice of practically all railroads in the United States is to require the rail to be' canted slightly inwardly, and hence the surface of the intermediate or rail seat portion 15 is disposed at the desired angle to the horizontal, substantially as illustrated. The bottom surface of the tie is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and is adapted to be seated on the tie 11, which is, of course, seated in the roadbed so that its top surface is substantially horizontally disposed. I

For anchoring the rail to the tie plate, I provide fastening clips 23 on opposite sides of the rail, the clips on opposite sides being of like construction and shape. In order to accommodate the same type of clip on either I side of the rail, the upper surfaces of the opposite end portions of the tie plate are made substantially alike so that the clips are interchangeably mountable on either side of the rail. The top surface portions of the respecv tive tie plate end portions on which the clips are seated may be referred to as clip seats and these seats may be specially formed surface portions, or, as in this case, they may consist merely of portions of the respective top surfaces which are of substantially uniform configuration across the entire width of the plate. As shown in Figure 1, each clip includes, a main body portion 24 and an upwardly ofl'set lip portion 25 which projects from one end of the body portion into overlying relation to the adj acent' portion of the rail base'flange. As shown, the overlying lip-portion is spaced vertically from the rail flange so as to permit free limitedmovement of the rail in a vertical direction as an incident to its normal wave motion under passing train loads. Each clip includes a shoulder'portion 26 which constitutes in effect a vertical extension of the respective rail-abutting shoulders of thetie plate. Hence, it

will be seen that the rail-abutting shoulders 13 and 14 may be made somewhat lower than the standard practice has heretofore required, with the consequent saving in. weight of the tie plate.

The mam body portion of each clip 23 is provided with a spike-receiving aperture 27 disposed substantially centrally of said body portion, i. e., spaced inwardly a material distance from the edges of the clip body, the

rear or outer end of said body being prov ded with a notch communicating with said aperture, as clearly shown in Figure- 2.

- Headed screw spikes, such as indicated at 28, may be passed through the openings 27 in clip is thus obtained and tie fibre is subjected to less mechanical wear incident to renewal and replacement of the clip and spike. The

- clips may be reinforced by means of ribs,

such as indicated at 30, extending lengthwise at the opposite sides thereof. While the spikes 28 may be turned down to tightly clamp the fastening clips and tie plate in place on the tie, such tightness is apt to be gradually relieved, for the reason that theitie plate gradually becomes embedded in the tie. In order to maintain the clip tightly against the tie plate and the latter tightly against the tie, spiral springs such as indicated at 31 may be interposed between the head of the spike and the top surface of the clip. A

limited amount of looseness may be taken up by such spiral springs. It is contemplated, of course, that maintenance men should from time to time turn down the screw spikes; so as to firmly and rigidly hold the clips and tie plates against the tie, and that the spring take-up arrangement should be effective to maintain the firm seating of the parts during the intervals between the servicing of structure. Mechanical wear on the tie fibre is largely eliminated by thus maintaining the tie plate firmly seated on the tie.

Itshould be noted that because of the spaced arrangementof the overlying lip portions 25 of the rail-fastening clips relative to the base flange of the rail, the normal 7 vertical movement of the rail will not tend the to lift the clips nor to draw out the spikes.

The overlying lip portions of the clips, the

shoulder extension portions of the clips, and

the tie plate with its rail-abutting shoulders as illustrated in Figure 1, constitute in effect a housing which embraces a portion of the rail base flange so that the rail is effectively located in proper position transversely of its length and limited with respect to its vertical movement. I 7

It is desirablev to provide tie plates with spike openings 29 adjacent each side at both ends, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in some instances it is desirable to provide an additional spikehole intermediate the holes 29 (as indicated in Fig. 3) to permit the fastening. clipsv to be mounted in oppositely disposed positions centrally .of the plate. In either arrangement, the tie plate 15 may be secured directly to the tie b meansof spikes driven through selected spi e holes- 29 in ad dition to the spikes driven through other openings for also securingthe clips in place, or independently of the means, for securing theclip to the plate when the clip is secured thereto by welding only.

Referring now to Figures illustrated a tie plate 32 mounted on a tie 33 for supporting a rail, the base portion of.-

which is indicated at 34. The tie plate 32 includes a rail seat portion 35 having a rail- 4 and 5, I have abutting shoulder 36 at one side thereof and end portions 37 and 38 projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of said rail seat portion. The bottom surface of the tie plate 32 in this instance includes depending projecly of the tie;

vided with grooves extending transversely thereof for receiving the ribs 39-39 so that the tie plate is immediately anchored to the tie against relative movement longitudinal- The initial embedment portions 40-40 are. quickly embedded in the tie to increase the interlock between the tie plate and the tie as an incident to the passage of a few trains over the tie plate, after which the tie plate, as a whole, begins to be embedded in the tie to alimited extent.

On the gauge side of the rail, i. e., the inside, a rail-fastening clip 41 is provided for anchoring the rail to the tie plate. This clip includes a main body portion 42 and an upwardly oflset lip portion 43 which extends over the adjacent flange portion of the rail in vertically spaced relation thereto. The clip 41 is also provided with a shoulder portion 44 which is adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the rail base flange to prevent lateral inward displacement of the rail. The body portion 42 of the clip is provided with an opening 45 through which a spike may be driven, the tie plate being provided with a registering opening 46 and the top surface of the clip being countersunk, as indicated at 47, to receive the under side of the spike head. Such recessing or countersinking of the clip body permits the spike to penetrate the tie to a greater extent thantis possible Where the spike is driven into the tie immediately adjacent the base flange with the head of the spike overlapping said base flange.

On the outside of the rail, I provide a fastening clip 48 which includes a main body portion 49 and a lip portion 50 which overlies the adjacent portion of the rail base flange in vertically spaced relation thereto. The body portion 49 of the clip and the end portion 38 of the tie plate are provided with registering openings, as indicated, 'to receive a spike 51 for fastening the'clip to the tie plate and both parts togthe-tie. The top surface of the clip body portion is alsore- "cessed or countersunk to receive a portion of the spike head to permit increased pene tration of the spike in the tie, as previously" explained. The'bottom surface of the clip 48 is. shaped to conform to the top surface of the end portion 38 including the railabutting shoulder 36, and in; providing the upwardly oflset portion of the lip' 50, 'a railabutting shoulder extension 52 may conveniently be provided. The shoulder extension 52 is preferably set back with respect to the rail-abutting shoulder 36, so that the side edge of the rail flange will not contact therewith, whereby abrasion of the clip is avoided, as explained. above in connection with the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

The rear or outer ends of each of the clips 41 and 48 are provided with -recesses for receivin'g the claws of a claw bar to facilitate withdrawal of the spikes when desired. j

Such claw bar recesses are indicated at 53 in Figures 4 and 6 and are located at the scribed, it will be noted that the spikes which penetrate the tie areremoved from the edge of the rail base flange so that the spike holes in the tie plate are spaced outwardly from the zone of" greatest stress and required strength in the tie plate. Hence, weakening of the tie plate is avoided by the described arrangement, and reduction of the weight of the plate by recessing as in Fig. 1 is permitted. Also, it will be noted that because of the greater distance between the spikes'on opposite sides of the rail, the tie itselfjis not so apt to split as an incident to the driving of the spikes thereinto. Another advantage of this arrangementis found in the fact that it is somewhat easier to punch the spike holes in the. relatively thin end portions of the.

spike, so that there is a greater area of clip.

surface disposed adjacent the rail base flange.

Such greater clip area obviously has an in- I .70 In both forms of construction abbve decreased rail-holdin power and much greater resistance to wear as an incident to the movement of the rail which occurs under normal" conditions. Hence, a distinct advantage in permanency is obtained in the use of the structure above described.

It has been found that under'normal conditions the spikes aresometimes accidentally pulled out or broken ofi, with the result ,that there is considerable danger of rail spreading. To provide an increased factor of safety by preventing such possible rail displacement, one of the clips on each tie plate may be weld ed tothe tie at the opposite sides of the tie clip, as indicated at 54 in Figure 2. In a length of track construction, as illustrated in Figure 9, it would .be preferable to weld alternately disposed clips, as indicated, while i securing theopposite or-intermediate clips only with a spike. By this arrangement, all of the spikes, both from the welded clips and the spike-secured clips, may be drawn, in

which event the welded-on clips would re-- I mally hold the plates in place are drawn.

Of course, a totally unspiked condition should not be permitted to remain, and the Welded arrangement is intended more particularly as an additional safety factor. Of course, it maybe found desirable under some conditions to weld all tie clips to the tie plates and to omit any spike securement of the clips, in which case the tie'plate should be secured to the tie, by spiking or otherwise, independently of the tie clip.

I am aware that changes and modifications in the above described structures may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which should therefore be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, atie plate having a railseat portion, end portions projecting from the opposite sides of said rail seat portion, and a rail-abutting shoulder at one side of said rail seat, a rail seated on said 'railseat, and a fastening clip seated on the end portion of the tie plate outside of said rail-abutting shoulder and provided with a shoulder portion constituting an extension of said tie plate shoulder, and a lip portion overlying the base fiangeof the railin spaced relation thereto. i

2. In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat portion, end portions projecting from the opposite sides of said .rail seat portion, and a raileabutting shoulder at one side of .said rail seat, a rail seated on said rail seat, and a fastening clip seated on the end portion of the tie plate outside of said rail-abutting shoulder and provided with a shoulderportion constituting an extension of said tie plate shoulder, and a lip portion overlying the base flange of the rail, the shoulder portion' of the clip being set back relative to the rail-abutting shoulder of the tieplate to prevent abrasion of the clip shoulder incident to vertical movement of the rail.

' 3. In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat portion and end portions projecting from'the opposite sides of said rail seat portion, a rail-abutting shoulder on the tie plate at one side of said rail seat, a rail seated on said seat, fastening clips secured to said tie plate on its end portions and having lips projecting towardsthe' rail and overlying the base flange of the rail in vertically spaced relation thereto, said tie plate, rail-abutting shoulder and fastening clips co-operating to form a housing embracing a portion of the rail base to retain the same'in predetermined position transversely of its length while per= mitting limited vertical movement of the rail.

{L In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat portion, end portions projecting from the opposite sides of said rail seat portion,

rail-abutting shoulders at the opposite sides of said rail seat, a rail seated on said seat between said shoulders, and fastening clips secured to said end portions, said clips having shoulder portions constituting vertical 'extensions of said tie plate shoulders, and lip portions projecting inwardly over the base 7 flange of the rail in vertically spaced relation thereto, said rail seat, rail-abutting shoulders, clip shoulder extensions and lip porlen t h while permitting limited vertical the sides of the clip projecting upwardly therefrom, extending along the side edges of the clip, across the angle between said body portion and offset lip, and merging into said lip below its top siirface, the body portion of said clip being provided with an opening intermediate said ribs for receiving a spike.

6; A clip for anchoring a rail .to a tie comprising a main body portion having an.

opening for receiving a spike for fastening the clip'to a tie, and an upwardly 'oflset lip portion projecting from one end of said body.

portion, the opposite end of the body portion having in its bottom surface a pair of spaced recesses opening to said opposite end for receiving the claws of a'claw bar to facilitate withdrawal of the spike from a tie through the agency of the clip.

7. In a rail mounting, the combination of a plurality of spaced ties, tie plates posi tioned' on said ties, arail extending transversely of the ties and seated on said tie plates, and a pair of clips secured to each of said tie plates, one on each side of the rail,

for anchoring the rail to the tie plates, alternately disposed clips being permanently secured to the tie plate, and the clips disposed opposite to, or intermediate, such permanent ly secured clips being 'removably mounted,

substantially as described.

-8. In a rail mounting, the combination of a plurality of spaced ties, tie plates positioned on said ties, a rail extending transversely of the ties and seated on said tie plates, and a 'pair of clips secured to'each of said tie plates,

one on each side of the rail, for anchoring the rail to the tie plates, certain of the clips onone side of the rail being welded to their respective tie plates and certain other clips on the opposite side of the rail being welded to their respective tie plates, the clips disposed opposite to such welded-on clips being removably mounted, substantially as described.

9. In combination, a tie plate having a medianportion and an end portion, an upwardly projecting shoulder on said tie plate intermediate said median and end portions, a rail seated on said median portion with one edge of its base flange disposed adjacent said shoulder, a clip having 'a body portion seated on the end portion of said tie plate and having a lip portion projecting inwardly over the base flange of said rail, said clip having a shoulder normally spaced horizontally from the'edge of said base flange and constitutin an extension of said tie plate shoulder an said lip projecting inwardly from said shoulder over the adjacent portion of v I said flange in vertically spaced relation thereto, the body portion of said clip having an open-sided opening extending therethrough, a headed fastening device extending through said opening for uniting the clip to said tie plate, said open-sided opening permitting said clip to be inserted under, or removed from under, the head of said fastening device when the latter is nearly'but not com pletely seated, by lateral movement of the 1 clip relative to the fastening device.

10. In a rail support and fastening; the combination of a tie, a tie plate positioned on the tie,'a.rail seated on the tie plate, a clip having a body portion seated on the tie plate and a lip portion overlyin the base flange of said rail, a spike extending through said clip and tie plate and into'the tie for securing said parts to the tie, and welding between the side portions of said clip and tie plate for additionally and independently securing the clip to the plate.

- WILLIAM S. BOYCE. 

